New Outback to offer Wilderness variant

SUBARU Australia has announced the line-up for its all-new Outback range ahead of the model’s local arrival in 2026.

Priced from $48,990 plus on-road costs – a $4800 increase over the starting price of the outgoing range – the seventh-generation Subaru Outback is set to be joined by the rugged Wilderness variant for the first time, adding a ruggedised alternative to the range, replete with 2.4-litre turbocharged power drawn from the outgoing Outback XT.

With a bold, squared-off design and larger proportions than before, the Outback Wilderness will enter the market as the most capable Subaru ever produced. It offers 240mm of ground clearance, dual X-Mode all-wheel drive, and a distinct suspension tune with electronically controlled dampers.

Across the range, the new Outback adopts what Subaru says are more traditional SUV proportions, with increased height and width, a more upright front-end, and bolder surfacing. LED lighting is now standard front and rear, while the expanded colour palette offers unique hues for the range-topping Wilderness variant.

Inside, the Outback introduces a modern technology set comprising a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 12.1-inch infotainment array Subaru says offers 2.5 times faster processing power than the outgoing unit.

This uptick in power allows enhanced usability, widget layout, and greater levels of customisation, says Subaru, while continuing to support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Native sat nav is offered on selected models while “essential controls” remain controlled by hard buttons.

Rounding out the infotainment highlights, we find higher grade Outback variants offered with a 12-speaker harman/kardon premium audio bundle.

The quietened cabin of the Outback is said to introduce a “living room-like” space which is comfortable, intuitive, and made for long days on the road. The seats are redesigned to provide greater lumbar and pelvis support and are upholstered in “easy-care” materials topped by Nappa leather on the Touring grade.

For the newly introduced Outback Wilderness (from $59,690, or $6000 more than the turbocharged XT Sport), Subaru now offers hard-wearing, easy-to-clean hydrophobic synthetic leather with an anti-slip embossed finish it says is ideal for outdoor and off-road use. ‘Wilderness’ branding features on the head restraints while across the range there is greater headroom in both the front and rear rows.

Further back, the cargo bay aperture is now 50mm higher to make loading and unloading easier, while up top, ladder-style roof rails offer a greater static load capacity of 363kg (up from 318kg previously). Additionally, the eight-litre-larger cargo (now 530 litres) area features a multi-use cargo cover that doubles as a bumper protector.

Engine offerings remain familiar to the outgoing range with a 2.5-litre Boxer four-cylinder petrol and turbocharged 2.4-litre Boxer four-cylinder petrol available, the latter with 194kW/382Nm. Both are paired as standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

A dual-pinion electrically assisted steering rack – as found in the WRX and Forester – is said to offer more confident control, while X-Mode all-wheel drive remains standard across the range (dual-mode in Wilderness variants).

Ground clearance for the naturally aspirated range increases 7mm to 220mm while the Wilderness is lifted to 240mm. Braked towing is listed at up to 2100kg.

Subaru’s latest generation of EyeSight driver assistance and safety technologies feature range-wide adopting a wide-angle monocular camera for greater recognition of cyclists, pedestrians and complex intersections. Driver monitoring is also adopted as standard, using a camera-based system to help detect signs of fatigue or distraction and prompt the driver to refocus.

Further, the system offers Subaru’s Emergency Driving Stop System, Acceleration Override Assist, and Active Lane Change Assist (on higher grades), alongside existing technologies including Front Pre-Collision Braking, Front and Side Alert Assist and Emergency Lane Keep Assist.

Vision Assist is also enhanced, with Front Side Radar available across the range, while for the first time on Outback, selected variants add a new Panoramic 360-degree View Monitor with Side View Monitor (SVM) to deliver “extra visibility with more camera angles and improved low-light performance”.

“Outback has always struck a chord with Australians,” said Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence.

“For 30 years it’s been the car people rely on every day, and the one they trust when they want to get out and explore.

“Wilderness takes all the capability so core to our SUVs and cranks it up. It’s the most capable SUV we’ve ever built, engineered for when the road ends.

“It’s no accident Outback is the first Subaru to wear the Wilderness badge here, given it kicked off our modern capability story back in 1996.

“Wilderness opens more of the map for our customers, and we can’t wait to see where it takes them.

The next-generation Subaru Outback, including Wilderness, is available to order now, with test drives offered at selected Subaru retailers.

2026 Subaru Outback pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.